Furniture
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Pellows and her husband use the formal dining space for dinner parties, which they host at least twice a month. The table, custom-built by a Canadian company, expands to seat 14. If the table is the star of the room, then the leather and brass chairs from CB2 are the supporting cast. Pellows recommends “decorating your house the same way you dress: You can mix fake jewelry and real jewelry, shop at TJ Maxx and Chanel. Not every item has to be a superstar.”
Credenza. The white credenza in front of the window serves as both storage cabinet and bar. Walker keeps items such as her printer and paperwork inside and out of sight. After hours, the bar on top allows her to easily unwind with friends.Credenza: Hooker Furniture Electrician: Edward WinslowMoreRead more apartment life storiesFind an interior designerBrowse living room products
Window treatments. “We didn’t change any paint color — but one thing we did change that made a massive difference was the window treatments,” Higham says.They replaced outdated vertical blinds with woven grass roller shades because they blend in better with the walls and gently filter the light. Such shades are an investment, Higham says, so she recommends using white curtains if you’re seeking a lower-cost option.Accent chair: Brownstone Upholstery; ottoman: Tammy Price of Fragments Identity (both via One Kings Lane); side table: Anthropologie; pompom pillow: Gaia Empowered Women; floor lamp: West Elm; shades: The Shade Store
Decorating. When you’re looking to redecorate, browse photos to identify looks you like and save them. You can use the photos as shopping inspiration or as examples when you meet with a designer. Once you’ve identified the looks you like, Higham recommends you buy your large furniture pieces and art first.“Accessories are pieces that can be more on-trend and thus don’t need to be the focus of your budget,” she says. “But these larger items will stay with you and are thus worth investing in.”Sofa. A good sofa is a worthwhile investment if there’s room in your living space (and budget), Higham says. Many people spend a lot of time on the couch when at home, and if you purchase a sofa you truly love, you can take it with you to your next space. Choose one that fits your comfort needs and wants — there are plenty of options on the market.Walls. Your walls are a great place to inject color into your space. Although Higham could have painted the walls in Walker’s apartment, she decided that the variety of textures and colors in the furnishings was enough. So if you can’t paint, take a page from Higham and layer on texture and color via the furnishings. Coffee table and side table: Anthro...
TakeawaysTo get started on a gallery wall composition, use a strong horizontal line through the middle and stick with matching frames to tie different pieces togetherA banquette can be a great space saver and storage provider.Playing off textures and colors is a great way to reference the beach without going overboard on the theme.When choosing a rug for a high-traffic area, consider carpet tiles and order a few extras that you’ll be able to use as replacements.Likewise, check out outdoor fabric options for indoor furniture that needs to stand up to a lot of wear and tear.MoreSo Your Style Is: Coastal
Banquette. “This family needed all the extra storage they could get,” Steeves says. The banquette has large drawers underneath it. Because the table must be moved to gain full access, they use them for things they don’t need very often, like fancy linens, large serving platters and seasonal items. Flooring. The family was able to save their original floors and had them sanded. Steeves recommended leaving them natural for a rustic look rather than staining them.
Reducing your belongings can be an emotionally difficult and exhausting task. Sometimes it takes several passes at decluttering before you reach your goal. But visualizing your ideal, decluttered space can help you stay encouraged and motivated. And be gentle on yourself as you work — every step you take will get you closer to a decluttered home and life.Share: What items do you find especially hard to let go of? What piece of advice has been most helpful? Tell us about it in the Comments!More‘Tidying Up’ Author Marie Kondo Tells How to ‘Spark Joy’ at HomeSimplifying: How to Get Your Grown Kids’ Things Out of the HouseFind a professional organizer near you
As she did with the red desk in the living room, Archer covered a laminate desk with a blue grasscloth wallpaper to add texture. Simple accents like the aluminum chair, gold wastebasket and task lamp complete the work area. Lachlan glossy black sofa table: Overstock; industrial task table lamp: West Elm; round brass decorative wall mirror: Target; find more round mirrors
Many pieces in the master bedroom are also DIY projects, including the headboard and pillowcases. For the headboard, Archer bought a piece of wood and covered it with foam and velvet. For the bedding, she dyed white sheets with indigo for a shibori effect. She had her dry cleaner put trim around the pillowcases for a tailored look. The lumbar pillow was re-covered in fabric from the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market.Archer’s dresser is from her days living in Chicago. She styled it with a pair of vintage gold lamps. The lampshades were upgraded with gold paint on the outside and silver leaf paint on the inside. Archer also added gold paint to the round mirror frame.While some may have opted for solid-color curtains, these zigzag-patterned curtains, sewn by a seamstress in Chicago, complement the exuberant wallpaper.Rectangular Directoire table: Global Views; lamps: eBay; A7336 Glimmer curtain fabric: Greenhouse Fabrics
Archer saved money on furniture by sourcing items from vintage and thrift stores. “I always try to find budget-friendly items that look more expensive than their cost,” she says. “You have to be diligent in searching for unique pieces that will make the decor sing.” She scored this credenza at a thrift store, then refinished it and swapped in new knobs.The abstract painting is a DIY project Archer created — a high-end look at a fraction of the cost. “I think the key to great design is knowing where to save and where to splurge,” she says. A pair of midcentury-style lamps completes the entertainment area. Credenza: Salvation Army; Lewis Dolin brass pulls: The Hardware Hut; Volongo stone ivory buffet lamps: Overstock
“We bought this house when I was still in my 20s, and I am thankful we have waited to make any major renovations,” Sophie says. “I feel like we’ve only recently, in the last few years, figured out our style and taste.” She describes their decorating style as “contemporary with a boho and glam twist.” That style includes nearly 50 hand-woven African baskets from a shop in San Rafael, now closed, that are displayed on built-in shelves extending to the second floor. Hess round leather sectional sofa: Room & Board; Smart round marble-top coffee table: CB2How to Nail the Boho Glam Look
She also built this breakfast bar in the kitchen to add more counter space. In this photo, it holds a crème brûlée pie she baked. “It’s my very Ukrainian urge to feed people who come to my home,” she says.
House at a GlanceWho lives here: Beverly Griffith and her Siamese cat, TyLocation: East Nashville, TennesseeSize: 1,517 square feet (141 square meters); two bedrooms, one bathroomYear built: 1915After Beverly Griffith bought her home in East Nashville, she painted the interior walls a dark shade of either gray or blue as a backdrop to the bright colors and funky patterns in her vintage decor and furniture. “I love dark walls because they make me feel enveloped by the room,” says Griffith, who works as a bar manager at a local music venue, Mercy Lounge. She also painted the trim in the den black, as seen here, to give the walls extra contrast.Wall paint: Wrought Iron, Benjamin Moore
Color picks. Caan’s advice for incorporating multiple colors in a room is to keep proportions in mind. She intentionally kept color off the floor and window treatments to balance out the room.“That gave me the contrast I needed,” she says. “With another color on the floor or on the curtains I felt that the room was going to get oversaturated.” Window treatment fabric: Schumacher; lamp: Shades of Light; browse green lamps
4. Purple Purple might be the last thing that comes to mind when choosing a sofa, but I’ve always found it to be an underrated color in design. Purple has been having a resurgence, though, which I think shows it’s a more refined and design-savvy choice than many think. While a certain amount of bravery is required to choose a purple sofa, it can be the ideal color if you’re looking to add richness, character and a bit of a statement in your home.
When it comes to infusing color into your design, the sofa is a great place to start. This single piece of furniture can instantly transform the look and feel of a room.
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